Gravity seminar - Gavin Lamb Seminar

The detection of electromagnetic (EM) counterparts to gravitational wave (GW) observed compact object mergers is key to maximising the science returns from GW observatories. Compact object mergers are promising candidates for the progenitor system of short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Using GW triggers to identify a merger, any EM jet counterparts can be used to constrain the dynamics and structure of short GRB jets. GW triggered searches could reveal a hidden population of optical transients associated with the short-lived jets from the merger object. By considering the EM counterparts from a jet, with or without the prompt GRB, the jet structure and dynamics can be constrained. The various dynamic and structured jet models are discussed and applied to the coincident GRB-GW detected neutron star merger GRB 170817A. Does GRB 170817A confirm the binary neutron star merger origin for short GRBs?